Methods, systems, and media for managing network connections

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and media for controlling network connections are provided. In some implementations, a method for controlling network connections is provided, the method comprising: determining, by a user device connection to an access point by a first network connection, that a second network connection is available; determining that the user device is in an idle state; while the user device is in the idle state, switching from the first network connection to the second network connection; monitoring network activity using the second network connection; switching back to the first network connection; generating a profile for the second network connection based at least in part on the monitored network activity; comparing the profile for the second network connection to a profile for the first network connection; selecting the second network connection based on the comparison; and in response to selecting the second network connection, switching to the second network connection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/397,282, filed Apr. 29, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/245,789, filed Aug. 24, 2016, each of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates to methods, systems, and media formanaging network connections.

BACKGROUND

As the number of devices that connect to the Internet through wirelessnetworks has exploded in recent years, wireless networks have becomeincreasingly crowded and less reliable. One relatively recentdevelopment to attempt to address some of these issues is theintroduction of dual-band wireless access points that can connect todevices in the five gigahertz (GHz) band in addition to the 2.4 GHz bandconnections available in many older wireless access points. However,connections at 5 GHz present other issues. For example, certain channelsused by 5 GHz systems overlap with frequencies used by certain radarsystems and may be required (e.g., due to government regulations) to usedynamic frequency selection (DFS) to switch to another channel whenradar interference is detected. This requires all of the devicesconnected to the access point at 5 GHz to also switch to the newchannel, which can result in decreased reliability, especially when manydevices are connected and all have to acquire signals at the new channelsimultaneously.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide new methods, systems, and mediafor managing network connections.

SUMMARY

In accordance with various implementations of the disclosed subjectmatter, methods, systems, and media for managing network connections areprovided.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosure subjectmatter, a method for managing network connections is provided, themethod comprising: connecting, by a user device, to an access pointusing a first network connection; determining that a second networkconnection is available; determining that the user device is in an idlestate; while the user device is in the idle state, switching from thefirst network connection to the second network connection; monitoringnetwork activity using the second network connection; subsequent tomonitoring the network activity using the second network connection,switching back to the first network connection; generating a profile forthe second network connection based at least in part on the monitorednetwork activity; comparing the profile for the second networkconnection to a profile for the first network connection; selecting thesecond network connection based on the comparison; and in response toselecting the second network connection, switching to the second networkconnection.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,a system for managing network connections is provided, the systemcomprising: a user device comprising a hardware processor that isprogrammed to: connect to an access point using a first networkconnection; determine that a second network connection is available;determine that the user device is in an idle state; while the userdevice is in the idle state, switch from the first network connection tothe second network connection; monitor network activity using the secondnetwork connection; subsequent to monitoring the network activity usingthe second network connection, switch back to the first networkconnection; generate a profile for the second network connection basedat least in part on the monitored network activity; compare the profilefor the second network connection to a profile for the first networkconnection; select the second network connection based on thecomparison; and in response to selecting the second network connection,switch to the second network connection.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform a method for managing network connections is provided, themethod comprising: connecting, by a user device, to an access pointusing a first network connection; determining that the user device is inan idle state; while the user device is in the idle state, switchingfrom the first network connection to the second network connection;monitoring network activity using the second network connection;subsequent to monitoring the network activity using the second networkconnection, switching back to the first network connection; generating aprofile for the second network connection based at least in part on themonitored network activity; comparing the profile for the second networkconnection to a profile for the first network connection; selecting thesecond network connection based on the comparison; and in response toselecting the second network connection, switching to the second networkconnection.

In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter,a system for managing network connections is provided, the systemcomprising: means for connecting a user device to an access point usinga first network connection; means for determining that the user deviceis in an idle state; means for switching, while the user device is inthe idle state, from the first network connection to the second networkconnection; means for monitoring network activity using the secondnetwork connection; means for switching, subsequent to monitoring thenetwork activity using the second network connection, back to the firstnetwork connection; means for generating a profile for the secondnetwork connection based at least in part on the monitored networkactivity; means for comparing the profile for the second networkconnection to a profile for the first network connection; means forselecting the second network connection based on the comparison; andmeans, responsive to the means for selecting the second networkconnection, for switching to the second network connection.

In some implementations, the access point is a dual-band access point,and the first network connection uses a first frequency band to connectto the access point and the second network connection uses a secondfrequency band to connect to the access point.

In some implementations, the first frequency band operates at about 2.4GHz and the second frequency band operates at about 5 GHz.

In some implementations, the second network connection connects to asecond access point.

In some implementations, the means for monitoring network activitycomprises means for monitoring the number of other user devicesconnected to the same access point using a network connectioncorresponding to the second network connection.

In some implementations, the means for monitoring network activitycomprises means for monitoring for channel changes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed subjectmatter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the followingdetailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered inconnection with the following drawings, in which like reference numeralsidentify like elements.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a generalized schematic diagram of a systemon which the mechanisms for managing network connections as describedherein can be implemented in accordance with some implementations of thedisclosed subject matter.

FIG. 2 shows an example of hardware that can be used to implement one ormore user devices and access points depicted in FIG. 1 in accordancewith some implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a process for managing network connections inaccordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with various implementations, mechanisms (which caninclude methods, systems, and/or media) for managing network connectionsare provided.

In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein canpreferentially connect to an access point and/or using a particularfrequency band that the mechanisms have determined to be more reliableand/or to provide better network performance among available networkconnections. In some implementations, the mechanisms described hereincan determine whether another network connection is available. Forexample, a user device, such as a media receiving device that isconfigured to receive media content over the Internet and output thereceived content to a television for presentation to a user, executingthe mechanisms described herein can search for networks to which themedia receiving device can potentially connect. In such an example, themedia receiving device can determine that there is another network withthe same service set identifier (SSID) as the network to which the mediareceiving device is currently connected (sometimes referred to herein asthe home network connection or home network), but that operates at adifferent frequency band.

In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein can monitor oneor more alternate network connections when the user device executing themechanisms described herein is idle. For example, when the mediareceiving device is not being used to download and output media content,the mechanisms described herein can establish an alternate networkconnection (e.g., a 5 GHz connection instead of a currently used 2.4 GHzconnection) and monitor aspects of the connection and/or the wirelessnetwork to which the alternate network connection is established.

In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein can determinewhether the current network connection or the alternate networkconnection is likely to be more reliable based on the informationobtained through monitoring the network activity using the alternateconnection. For example, the media receiving device can compare thecurrent networks performance and/or reliability to the alternatenetworks performance and/or reliability. In such an example, the mediareceiving device can select the network with better performance, and usea connection to that network for downloading media content in thefuture.

FIG. 1 shows an example 100 of a generalized schematic diagram of asystem on which the mechanisms for managing network connections asdescribed herein can be implemented in accordance with someimplementations of the disclosed subject matter. As illustrated, system100 can include one or more user devices 110. User devices 110 can belocal to each other or remote from each other. User device 110 can beconnected to an access point 102 via a communications link 104, whichcan in turn be connected to a communication network 106 via acommunications link 108.

System 100 can include one or more servers 120 which can be connected tocommunication network 106 via a communications link 122. Server 120 canbe any suitable server or servers for providing access to any suitableinformation, such as a processor, a computer, a data processing device,or any suitable combination of such devices.

In some implementations, each of user devices 110, access point 102 andserver 120 can be any of a general purpose device such as a computer ora special purpose device such as a client, a server, a wireless accesspoint, a router, etc. Any of these general or special purpose devicescan include any suitable components such as a hardware processor (whichcan be a microprocessor, digital signal processor, a controller, etc.),memory, communication interfaces, display controllers, input devices,etc. For example, user device 110 can be implemented as a smartphone, atablet computer, a mobile telephone, a wearable computer, a vehicle(e.g., an automobile, a boat, an airplane, or any other suitablevehicle) entertainment system (e.g., a radio, a built-in display, etc.),a personal computer, a laptop computer, a digital media receiver, aset-top box, a smart television, a home entertainment system, a gameconsole, any other suitable computing device, or any suitablecombination thereof. As another example, access point 102 can beimplemented as any suitable wireless access point such as a wirelessaccess point configured to communicate with one or more user devicesusing one or more wireless communication techniques that comply with oneor more of the IEEE 802.11 group of wireless communication standards,which are sometimes referred to herein as Wi-Fi.

Communications network 106 can be any suitable computer network orcombination of such networks including the Internet, an intranet, awide-area network (WAN), a local-area network (LAN), a wireless network,a Wi-Fi network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a frame relaynetwork, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), an intranet, etc. In some implementations, communicationslink 104 can be any communications link suitable for communicating databetween user device 110 and access point 102, such as a 2.4 gigahertz(GHz) Wi-Fi link, a 5 GHz Wi-Fi link, a ZigBee link, etc. Each ofcommunications links 108 and 120 can be any communications linkssuitable for communicating data among user devices access points 102 andserver 110, such as network links, dial-up links, wireless links,hard-wired links, any other suitable communications links, or anysuitable combination of such links. Note that, in some implementations,a user device (e.g., user device 110) can be configured to have accessto multiple access points 102 and/or to multiple frequency bandsprovided by the same access point 102. In some implementations, networkconnections provided by different access points 102 and/or networkconnections provided over different frequency bands can have differentidentifying information (e.g., different Service Set Identifiers(SSIDs)) or the same identifying information (e.g., in the case of anetwork configuration having multiple access points that provide accessto the same local area network, such as a wireless mesh network).

FIG. 2 shows an example 200 of hardware that can be used to implementone or more of user devices 110, and access points 102 depicted in FIG.1 in accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subjectmatter. Referring to FIG. 2, user device 110 can include a hardwareprocessor 212, a display/input device 214, memory 216, and atransmitter/receiver 218, which can be interconnected. In someimplementations, memory 216 can include a storage device (such as anon-transitory computer-readable medium) for storing a computer programfor controlling hardware processor 212.

Hardware processor 212 can use the computer program to establishconnections to various access points (e.g., access points 102), monitoractivity by the access point, profile the network connection, etc. Itshould also be noted that data received through communications link 104or any other communications links can be received from any suitablesource. In some implementations, hardware processor 212 can send andreceive data through communications link 104 or any other communicationlinks using, for example, a transmitter, receiver, transmitter/receiver,transceiver, or any other suitable communication device, such astransmitter/receiver 218. Display/input device 214 can include atouchscreen, a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube display, aprojector, a speaker(s), and/or any other suitable display and/orpresentation devices, and can further include a computer keyboard, acomputer mouse, a microphone, a touchpad, a voice recognition circuit, atouch interface of a touchscreen, and/or any other suitable inputdevice. Transmitter/receiver 218 can include any suitable transmitterand/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving any suitable data,such as data sent to server 120 by user device 110 and/or sent fromserver 120 to user device 110. In some implementations,transmitter/receiver 218 can include any suitable number and/or type oftransmitter, receiver, transmitter/receiver, transceiver, etc.

Access point 102 can include a hardware processor 222, memory 224, and atransmitter/receiver 226, which can be interconnected. In someimplementations, memory 224 can include a storage device (such as anon-transitory computer-readable medium) for storing a computer programfor controlling hardware processor 222.

Hardware processor 222 can use the computer program to establish networkconnections with one or more user devices 110, communicate with otheraccess points 102 and/or with a communications network (e.g.,communications network 106), and/or to perform any other suitablefunctions. It should also be noted that data received throughcommunications link 104, communications link 108 and/or any othercommunications links can be received from any suitable source. In someimplementations, hardware processor 222 can send and receive datathrough communications link 104, communications link 108 and/or anyother communication links using, for example, a transmitter, receiver,transmitter/receiver, transceiver, or any other suitable communicationdevice, such as transmitter/receiver 226. Transmitter/receiver 226 caninclude any suitable number and/or type of transmitter, receiver,transmitter/receiver, transceiver, etc., for transmitting and/orreceiving any suitable data, such as data sent to server 120 by userdevice 110 and/or sent from server 120 to user device 110. In someimplementations, access point 102 can include one or more othertransmitters and/or receivers (not shown) that can be used tocommunicate with, for example, communications network 106 usingcommunications link 108.

Turning to FIG. 3, an example 300 of a process for managing networkconnections is shown in accordance with some implementations of thedisclosed subject matter. At 302, process 300 can determine whether anetwork connection other than a current network connection is availableto be used by a user device (e.g., user device 110) that is executing atleast a portion of process 300. In some implementations, process 300 canuse any suitable technique or combination of techniques to determinewhether an alternative network connection is available. For example,process 300 can periodically identify network connections that arepotentially available. In a more particular example, process 300 cansend a request (e.g., addressed to any discoverable access point) foridentifying information of access points that are compatible with awireless communication standard being used by user device 110 (e.g.,over a particular channel). In such an example, process 300 can receiveresponses to the request that include identifying information (e.g., theSSID associated with the network connection over which the access pointis responding) and any other suitable information about the networkconnection such as whether the network connection is secured,identifying information of the access point (e.g., a media accesscontrol (MAC) address, an organizationally unique identifier (OUI)portion of the MAC address, a network interface controller (NIC) portionof the MAC address, etc.). In some implementations, process 300 can sendsuch a request over multiple channels and/or multiple frequency bands(e.g., the 2.4 Ghz band and the 5 Ghz band).

As another example, process 300 can periodically identify networkconnections to which the user device (e.g., user device 110) executingprocess 300 has previously connected and/or for which user device 110has saved the login credentials (e.g., the SSID and password). In suchan example, user device 110 can send requests specifically addressed toaccess points which are hidden (e.g., that do not respond to requestsfor identifying information addressed to all access points).

In some implementations, process 300 can identify multiple access pointsand/or network connections that respond with the same SSID. For example,in a wireless mesh network configuration multiple access points may usethe same SSID to provide access to the same communication network (e.g.,a local area network) across an area that may not be coverable by asingle access point (e.g., a college campus, an airport terminal, ahotel, a large residence, etc.). As another example, an access point mayprovide network connections using the same SSID on different frequencybands.

In some implementations, process 300 can determine that there is analternate network connection at 302 in situations in which a currentnetwork connection and another network connection have the same SSIDand/or correspond to connections to the same access point at differentfrequency bands.

In some implementations, process 300 may not identify an existingdifferent network connection as an available alternate networkconnection if it does not correspond to the current network connection(e.g., does not share the same SSID, does not correspond to a connectionto the same access point using a different frequency band, etc.).Additionally, in some implementations, process 300 may not identify anexisting different network connection as an available alternate networkconnection if is not secure and/or if it is not a network connection towhich user device 110 has previously connected (e.g., user device 110does not have a saved profile for the network connection).

At 304, process 300 can determine if the user device (e.g., user device110) executing process 300 is in an idle state. In some implementations,process 300 can determine if user device 110 is in an idle state usingany suitable technique or combination of techniques. For example,process 300 can determine that user device 110 is in an idle state ifprocess 300 determines that user device 110 is in a sleep state. Asanother example, process 300 can determine that user device 110 is notin an idle state if user device 110 is currently uploading and/ordownloading one or more files.

If process 300 determines that the user device executing process 300 isnot in an idle state (“NO” at 304), process 300 can return to 302 anddetermine whether alternate network connections are available at asuitable time. Otherwise, if process 300 determines that the user deviceexecuting process 300 is in an idle state (“YES” at 304), process 300can proceed to 306.

At 306, process 300 can switch from the current network connection toone of the available alternate network connections. In someimplementations, process 300 can switch to any suitable alternatenetwork connection at any suitable time while a user device (e.g., userdevice 110) is in an idle state. For example, if user device 110 iscurrently connected to an access point (e.g., access point 102) using anetwork connection in the 2.4 Ghz frequency band, process 300 can switchto connect to access point 102 using a network connection in the 5 Ghzband. As another example, if user device 110 is currently connected toan access point in a wireless mesh network, process 300 can switch toconnect to another access point in the wireless mesh network (e.g., anaccess point with a next highest signal strength if user device 110 iscurrently connected to an access point with a highest signal strength).

At 308, process 300 can monitor network activity using the alternatenetwork connection. In some implementations, process 300 can monitor anysuitable activity for any suitable period of time. For example, in someimplementations, process 300 can monitor the number of retries thatoccur when connected using the alternate network connection. As anotherexample, process 300 can monitor the signal-to-noise ratio of thealternate network connection. As yet another example, process 300 canmonitor whether the access point changes channels for the alternatenetwork connection and/or can monitor the channel being used for thealternate network connection. As still another example, process 300 candetermine whether the access point reports that the network is busyand/or that a connection cannot be established to the access point. As afurther example, process 300 can monitor the number and/or identifyinginformation of other devices connected to the access point using anetwork connection corresponding to the alternate network connection. Asanother further example, process 300 can monitor the signal strength ofthe alternate network connection. As a still further example, process300 can test the upload and/or download bandwidth of the alternatenetwork connection. Additionally, process 300 can monitor any othersuitable parameters of the alternate network connection.

In some implementations, process 300 can monitor network activity usingthe alternate network connection for any suitable period of time. Forexample, if the access point to which user device 110 is connected tousing the alternate network connection sends a beacon signal every onehundred milliseconds (ms), process 300 can monitor the alternate networkfor a period of at least a few multiples of the beacon interval tocapture interactions that take place over at least one entire intervalbetween beacon signals. In a more particular example, process 300 canmonitor the alternate network connection for 300 ms, 400 ms, etc.

In some implementations, after monitoring network activity using thealternate network connection, process 300 can switch back to the currentnetwork connection or can switch to another alternate networkconnection. Additionally, in some implementations, process 300 canmonitor network activity using the current network connection asdescribed above in connection with monitoring network activity using thealternate network connection.

At 310, process 300 can generate a profile for the alternate networkconnection based on the monitored activity. In some implementations,where a profile already exists for the alternate network connection,process 300 can update the profile based on the monitored activity. Insome implementations, process 300 can use any suitable technique orcombination of techniques to build the profile. For example, process 300can determine whether the observed retry rate is relatively high,relatively average, etc. In some implementations, process 300 cangenerate the profile for the alternate network connection in comparisonto values observed on the current network connection. In someimplementations, the profile generated by process 300 at 310 can be aprofile for a particular time of day and/or day of the week, and process300 can generate different profile information for different timesand/or days to account for different network usage that may occurthroughout the day and/or on different days. For example, during theweek, a home network may not experience much traffic if no users arehome actively using user devices, and accordingly a profile generatedusing the information from during the day on a Monday may not accuratelyreflect conditions that would occur on Monday night or during the day onSunday.

In some implementations, process 300 can generate and/or update theprofile based on data collected from multiple samplings throughout aparticular period of time (e.g., at least one minute, at least one hour,at least eight hours, etc.).

In some implementations, when new data is collected at 308, some olderdata that was previously used to generate the profile for the alternatenetwork connection can be replaced, deleted and/or otherwise not used inthe current profile. Additionally, in some implementations, process 300can generate a profile for the current network connection based oninformation collected about the current network.

In some implementations, process 300 can wait until there is sufficientdata to generate the profile at 310. For example, process 300 can waitfor network activity over a particular network connection to bemonitored at least a threshold number of times before generating theprofile at 310. Additionally, in some implementations, process 300 cancheck the information obtained through the monitoring at 310 forconsistency prior to generating the profile at 310. For example, if theinformation obtained through monitoring over multiple sampling periodsis not sufficiently consistent, process 300 can wait for moreinformation, and/or can generate a profile for a particular time and/orday for which consistent information does exist.

At 312, process 300 can compare the profile for the current networkconnection and the profile for the alternate network connection. In someimplementations, process 300 can use any suitable technique orcombination of techniques to compare the profiles. For example, theinformation used to generate each profile can be used to generate one ormore scores that represent the reliability and/or performance of eachnetwork based on the information gathered as described above inconnection with 308, and process 300 can compare the score(s) for eachnetwork connection. As another example, process 300 can compare theprofiles along multiple dimensions (e.g., number of retries, number ofdevices connected to the network, bandwidth to a remote server over thenetwork, etc.), and based on the comparison, select a network connectionthat has the best performance along the most dimensions. As yet anotherexample, process 300 can use the profiles as inputs to a model ofnetwork connection performance that can output an indication of whichnetwork connection is likely to be more reliable based on the profileinformation.

At 314, process 300 can select a network connection based on thecomparison at 312. In some implementations, process 300 can use anysuitable technique or combination of techniques to select a networkconnection. For example, process 300 can select a network connectionmonitored at 300 based on the comparison indicating that the alternatenetwork connection is likely to have better performance. In someimplementations, process 300 can specify which network connection and/orwhich access point is being selected. For example, process 300 canspecify that a particular type of connection (e.g., a connection in the2.4 GHz frequency band) to a particular access point (e.g., specified bySSID and/or at least a portion of MAC address) has been selected.

At 316, process 300 can determine whether an alternate networkconnection has been selected. In some implementations, process 300 candetermine, based on the selected network connection, whether analternate network connection has been selected by comparing the selectednetwork connection (e.g., frequency band, SSID, MAC address, etc.) tothe current network connection. If process 300 determines that analternate network connection has not been selected (“NO” at 316),process 300 can return to 302 and determine whether alternateconnections are available. Otherwise, if process 300 determines that analternate network connection has been selected (“YES” at 316), process300 can proceed to 318.

At 318, process 300 can cause the user device (e.g., user device 110)executing process 300 to establish a connection to an access point(e.g., access point 102) using the alternate network connection selectedat 314. In some implementations, user device 110 can use any suitabletechnique or combination of techniques to connect to the access pointusing the network connection selected at 314.

After the alternate network connection is established at 318, process300 can return to 302 and determine whether any alternate networkconnections are available, treating the network connection made at 318as the current network connection.

In some implementations, the network connection that was switched awayfrom at 318 can be blacklisted or otherwise indicated as not beingsuitable for establishing a network connection. Additionally oralternatively, in some implementations, the alternate network connectioncan be blacklisted, such that the user device executing process 300 isinhibited from connecting using the alternate network connection. Insuch implementations, a blacklisted network connection may not beindicated as being an available network connection at 302. In someimplementations, a network connection can be blacklisted for anysuitable reason. For example, if the performance and/or reliability of anetwork connection is below a threshold, the network connection can beblacklisted. In some implementations, a network connection can beblacklisted during certain times of day and/or on certain days, but maynot be blacklisted for other times and/or days.

In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein can includeserver-side software, client-side software, server-side hardware,client-side hardware, firmware, or any suitable combination thereof. Forexample, these mechanisms can encompass a computer program that causesone or more processors (such as hardware processor 212) to execute themechanisms described herein. For instance, these mechanisms canencompass a computer program written in a programming languagerecognizable by user device 110 that is executing the mechanisms (e.g.,a program written in a programming language, such as, Java, C,Objective-C, C++, C #, JavaScript, Visual Basic, HTML, XML, ColdFusion,any other suitable approaches, or any suitable combination thereof).

In some implementations, any suitable computer readable media can beused for storing instructions for performing the functions and/orprocesses described herein. For example, in some implementations,computer readable media can be transitory or non-transitory. Forexample, non-transitory computer readable media can include media suchas magnetic media (such as hard disks, floppy disks, etc.), opticalmedia (such as compact discs, digital video discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.),semiconductor media (such as flash memory, electrically programmableread only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read onlymemory (EEPROM), random access memory (RAM), etc.), any suitable mediathat is not fleeting or devoid of any semblance of permanence duringtransmission, and/or any suitable tangible media. As another example,transitory computer readable media can include signals on networks, inwires, conductors, optical fibers, circuits, any suitable media that isfleeting and devoid of any semblance of permanence during transmission,and/or any suitable intangible media.

In some implementations of the disclosed subject matter, the abovedescribed steps of the process of FIG. 3 can be executed or performed inany order or sequence not limited to the order and sequence shown anddescribed in the figures. Also, some of the above steps of the processof FIG. 3 can be executed or performed substantially simultaneouslywhere appropriate or in parallel to reduce latency and processing times.Furthermore, it should be noted that FIG. 3 is provided as an exampleonly. At least some of the steps shown in FIG. 3 may be performed in adifferent order than represented, performed concurrently, or omitted.

The provision of the examples described herein (as well as clausesphrased as “such as,” “e.g.,” “including,” and the like) should not beinterpreted as limiting the claimed subject matter to the specificexamples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only some ofmany possible aspects. It should also be noted that, as used herein, theterm mechanism can encompass hardware, software, firmware, or anysuitable combination thereof.

Accordingly, methods, systems, and media for controlling networkconnections are provided.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in theforegoing illustrative implementations, it is understood that thepresent disclosure has been made only by way of example, and thatnumerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention canbe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,which is limited only by the claims that follow. Features of thedisclosed implementations can be combined and rearranged in variousways.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing network connections, themethod comprising: detecting that a computing device is in an idlestate, wherein the user device is connected to a first networkconnection and wherein a second network connection is available;switching from the first network connection to the second networkconnection; monitoring network activity using the second networkconnection; switching back to the first network connection from thesecond network connection; generating a profile for the second networkconnection based at least in part on the monitored network activity; andswitching from the first network connection to the second networkconnection based on the generated profile.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the profile is generated in response to determining that athreshold amount of network activity has been monitored based at leastin part on the monitored network activity.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: comparing the profile for the second networkconnection to another profile associated with the first networkconnection; and selecting the second network connection for switchingfrom the first network connection based on the comparison.
 4. The methodof claim 1, further comprising connecting to an access point using oneof the first network connection and the second network connection,wherein the access point is a dual-band access point, wherein the firstnetwork connection uses a first frequency band to connect to the accesspoint, and wherein the second network connection uses a second frequencyband to connect to the access point.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe second network connection connects to a second access point.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein monitoring network activity comprisesmonitoring the number of other computing devices connected to the sameaccess point using a network connection corresponding to the secondnetwork connection.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring networkactivity comprises monitoring for channel changes.
 8. A system formanaging network connections, the system comprising: a computing devicecomprising a hardware processor that: detects that a computing device isin an idle state, wherein the user device is connected to a firstnetwork connection and wherein a second network connection is available;switches from the first network connection to the second networkconnection; monitors network activity using the second networkconnection; switches back to the first network connection from thesecond network connection; generates a profile for the second networkconnection based at least in part on the monitored network activity; andswitching from the first network connection to the second networkconnection based on the generated profile.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein the profile is generated in response to determining that athreshold amount of network activity has been monitored based at leastin part on the monitored network activity.
 10. The system of claim 8,wherein the hardware processor further: compares the profile for thesecond network connection to another profile associated with the firstnetwork connection; and selects the second network connection forswitching from the first network connection based on the comparison. 11.The system of claim 8, wherein the hardware processor further connectsto an access point using one of the first network connection and thesecond network connection, wherein the access point is a dual-bandaccess point, wherein the first network connection uses a firstfrequency band to connect to the access point, and wherein the secondnetwork connection uses a second frequency band to connect to the accesspoint.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the second network connectionconnects to a second access point.
 13. The system of claim 8, whereinmonitoring network activity comprises monitoring the number of otheruser devices connected to the same access point using a networkconnection corresponding to the second network connection.
 14. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein monitoring network activity comprisesmonitoring for channel changes.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium containing computer executable instructions that, when executedby a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for managingnetwork connections, the method comprising: detecting that a computingdevice is in an idle state, wherein the user device is connected to afirst network connection and wherein a second network connection isavailable; switching from the first network connection to the secondnetwork connection; monitoring network activity using the second networkconnection; switching back to the first network connection from thesecond network connection; generating a profile for the second networkconnection based at least in part on the monitored network activity; andswitching from the first network connection to the second networkconnection based on the generated profile.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the profile is generatedin response to determining that a threshold amount of network activityhas been monitored based at least in part on the monitored networkactivity.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15,wherein the method further comprises: comparing the profile for thesecond network connection to another profile associated with the firstnetwork connection; and selecting the second network connection forswitching from the first network connection based on the comparison. 18.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein themethod further comprises connecting to an access point using one of thefirst network connection and the second network connection, wherein theaccess point is a dual-band access point, wherein the first networkconnection uses a first frequency band to connect to the access point,and wherein the second network connection uses a second frequency bandto connect to the access point.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 15, wherein the second network connection connects to asecond access point.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein monitoring network activity comprises monitoring thenumber of other user devices connected to the same access point using anetwork connection corresponding to the second network connection. 21.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, whereinmonitoring network activity comprises monitoring for channel changes.